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(Continued from page 9) About 30 people attempt to hike the Continental Divide Trail each year, compared with 3,000 who pursue the Appala chian Trail and 300 who try the Pacific Crest Trail. While long-distance hikers come from many walks of life, they share common characteristics. They are goal-oriented people who are highly motivated to complete a grueling journey. They may or may not be in particularly good physical shape or have trained a great deal beforehand. Surprisingly, advance training may not make chat much difference, says Mike Dawson, of Don't Miss This Special Offer! ALAN JACKSON Sings the Hymns You Love the Most! Experience country music superstar Alan Jackson s Precious Memories , a collection of 15 powerful soul-touching hymns destined to become a favorite for generations to come! Own This Record-Breaking Album TODAY! The only gospel recording ever to debut at No.l on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart! You get 15 of your favorite hymns! 1. Blessed Assurance 2. Softly And Tenderly 3. I Love To Tell The Story 4. When We All Get To Heaven 5. Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus 6. In The Garden 7. Are You Washed In The Blood? 8. I'll Fly Away 9. What A Friend We Have In Jesus 10. Standing On The Promises 11. Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus 12. Leaning On The Everlasting Arms 13. The Old Rugged Cross 14. How Great Thou Art 15.1 Want To Stroll Over Heaven With You A snack inspired Larson’s nickname. type of training, and they've been quirt- suc cessful. And there have been others who did have tons of training and were not successful," Dawson says. "The people who have been suc cessful have che ability to get up day after day after day, and hike all day, knowing they've got months to go, and then get up the next day, and do it again.” ’Alan jacks on '“'T PRECIOUS MEMORIES I Wt 1 L Gr °; f p#?* | ORDER TODAY— -3 EASY Ways! ☆ **■☆☆*■**☆☆☆☆☆** A ONLINE www. americanprofile. com/store CALL (800) 715-6248 Please have your credit card ready. MAIL Please send a check/money order for $23.98 ($18.98 + $5.00 s/h) to: Precious Memories, Dept. AP, P.O. Box 340, Harrison, AR 72602 Residents of CA, TN. il, AR and NY ado sales tax NSF cnecxs will be automatically debited foi the amount of the check pius applicable fees. Offer is limited and expires 12/8/06 • _ Please allow 2*4 weens for delivery’ Vashon. Wash., trail opera tions director for the Pacific Crest Trail Alliance. "There have been plenty of people who have started thru-hikes with no special Larson and his hiking companions cross a mountain meadow along the Idaho-Montana border. Hike, eat, sleep A quintessential example of a devot ed hiker is “Flyin” Brian Robinson, 45, of Mountain View, Calif., who in 2001 became the first person to complete all three legs of the Triple Crown—a total of 7,371 miles —in a calendar year. Last year, British hiker Matt Hazley, 26, bested Robinson’s achievement by complet ing the Triple Crown of hiking in 240 days, the fastest time ever recorded. He averaged 40 miles a day, and didn't run down the trail. Too dangerous, he thought. He got started each day at 6 or 7 a.m.. hiked for 14 hours, ate dinner and went to bed. “Its only tough if you let it get tough," Hazley says. "As long as you stay focused, no matter how tough it gets, you’ll reach your goal." To complete a long-distance hike requires a lot of planning. Larson saved about S4,(XX) for the Continental Divide trek, budgeting a little more than SI per mile. He arranged mail and txxxJ drops at businesses and post offices in Mack's Inn, Idaho; South Pass, Wyo.; Twin Lakes, Colo.; and Abiquiu and Pie Town, N.M. His sister, Dawn, in Hinckley, Minn., works as his support crew, mailing critical items —such as new hiking shoes—along the way. He ordered guidebooks and maps for each section of the trail last winter and studied them in great detail. Once he completes a section of the trail, he tosses the old maps and field guides and receives new ones at his next mail drop. He carries a global-positioning system device to help him stay on the path. He packs lightweight fcxxl such as Ramen noodles, Lipton soups, tortilla wraps. Carnation instant breakfast drinks, Power bars, crackers and cheese, and his favorite snack, Skittles. L Page 10 im B Brian Robinson hails his Triple Crown feat. Sunlight filters thrafj3| the forest canopy aUsitjj in North •www.americanprofile.com T%oto Greg Robinson